Not only do we face the stereotype from these sort of archaic

Hear the voice of Leah Williamson, warrior on the field of sport and herald of a new age, who declared: “Not only do we face the stereotype from these sort of archaic beliefs that women are only meant to be a certain way... But we are also conditioned to believe them.” These words carry both sorrow and fire, for they reveal not only the chains imposed by the world, but the deeper chains that creep into the mind itself. To be bound from without is cruelty, but to be taught to bind oneself is a deeper tragedy still.

The origin of this truth lies in the long history of women’s struggle against stereotypes. For centuries, society has whispered—and often shouted—that women must be confined to certain roles: caretakers, ornaments, the quiet voices in the background. These archaic beliefs did not vanish with time; they endured, shaping culture, laws, and expectations. Williamson, as an athlete in a realm long dominated by men, saw how even when women step boldly into arenas of strength and skill, they must still battle the invisible weight of expectations that tell them they do not belong.

Consider, O listener, the tale of Joan of Arc. She dressed in armor, led armies, and claimed her divine calling. Yet even in her greatness, she was dragged down not only by her enemies but by the stereotypes of her age, which condemned her for daring to act outside the narrow bounds set for women. Her chains were not merely iron; they were the beliefs of a society that could not imagine a woman as a general. And like Williamson’s words remind us, such beliefs do not merely press from without—they seep into the heart, teaching even the boldest to doubt their right to stand where they stand.

This conditioning is perhaps the most dangerous force. For when a woman begins to believe the lie—that she must be small, quiet, submissive—then the oppressor’s work is done without the oppressor lifting a hand. Generations of girls have been taught to shrink their dreams, to lower their voices, to play roles written not by their own hands but by those of a world that feared their power. And yet, in every age, there have been those who refused this conditioning—who broke the chains within and rose to greatness.

Williamson herself, leading England’s women’s football team to triumph, shattered stereotypes on the world stage. Her presence declared that women are not bound by archaic beliefs, that they can lead, compete, and inspire just as powerfully as men. Her words remind us that the battle is not only on the field, but in the mind—fighting the inner voice that whispers old lies. Victory comes not only in lifting trophies, but in refusing to believe the roles others have written for you.

O seeker, the lesson is clear: the greatest prisons are built not of stone, but of thought. If you wish to be free, you must tear down the beliefs that tell you what you “should” be, and replace them with the truth of what you can be. Do not accept the stereotypes of the past; do not carry their poison into your heart. See them, name them, reject them—and in that act, you reclaim your power.

And what actions must we take? Teach children that strength, intelligence, and leadership are not bound by gender. Support women who step into roles where society has told them they do not belong. Question your own beliefs, and when you find the whisper of old conditioning within yourself, cast it out like a shadow chased by the sun. Build communities where women define themselves, where they are celebrated not for fitting molds but for breaking them.

Thus remember Williamson’s words: we face stereotypes, and worse, we are conditioned to believe them. But conditioning is not destiny. It can be broken, it can be unlearned, it can be cast aside. When women—and all people—see through the lies of the past and embrace their full power, then the world is transformed. And in that transformation lies the freedom of future generations, who will inherit not chains, but wings.